CNA Certification Classes- Certified Nurse Aides, or CNAs, provide care directly to patients and help them with tasks associated with daily living. These professionals take vital signs, help patients bathe and dress, feed them, assist with toilet duties and more while providing comfort and listening to what the patients have to say.

To become a CNA, a man or woman may register for a course at a college or technical school and receive certification to enter the career field. Another option is to enroll in a training program provided by a hospital, nursing facility or nursing home that offers such courses. Most locations do not require a Certified Nurse Aide candidate to have a high school diploma or GED, but all candidates should be at least 18 years old and be able to perform basic math and speak, read or write in English. In some areas, knowing a second language is also helpful. Many certification providers also require students to take and pass the Test of Adult Basic Education test.

Training to become a Certified Nurse Aide takes close to six weeks with most programs, though some can last longer. Cost of CNA Certification Classes also varies from state to state and program to program, but most generally range between $300 and $600 for all program courses and materials.

Students in CNA Certification Classes are taught concepts and skills related to the job in both lecture and hands-on settings. Time in the classroom will generally focus on teaching students the basic concepts of caring for others, with instructions on how to properly provide care, prepare meals, keep patients safe, control infection, assist with daily activities, feed patients, attend to health issues, perform CPR and life support, assist with basic hygiene, complete proper documentation and reporting and communicate with both the patient and supervisors. During hands-on training, program candidates will actually practice the skills they have been taught in the classroom, plus work on basic physical therapy, in order to prepare them for providing care to individuals who are ailing or elderly.

Following completion of training, a Certified Nurse Aide may find employment in rehab centers, nursing homes, adult day care centers, hospitals, long-term care facilities and hospices. Direct patient care at the homes of individuals is also a possibility. Average salary for new CNAs is about $26,000 per year.